A+ A-

Japanese Emperor meets OCA chief

By Miyoko Ishigami

TOKYO, July 16 (KUNA) -- Japanese Emperor Akihito met visiting Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah of Kuwait here Saturday.
During the meeting at the Imperial Palace, the Japanese Emperor asked Sheikh Ahmad to convey his congratulations to H.H. the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on Kuwait's 50th anniversary of Independence. For his part, Sheikh Ahmad, on behalf of the people of Kuwait, offered the emperor condolences over the victims of the March 11 earthquake in the country's northeast, and extended sincere sympathy to the Japanese people.
The emperor also attended a ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Japanese Olympic Committee on Saturday, where he thanked in his opening speech the OCA and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for their outstanding contributions to the development of the Olympic movement and sports in Asia.
Sheikh Ahmad arrived here on Tuesday for a five-day visit for a series of conferences and meetings, including the OCA General Assembly that elected him as the OCA head for the sixth consecutive term for the next four years, uncontested. Sheikh Ahmad has been leading the OCA since 1991 and an IOC member since 1992.
The Kuwait-based OCA was founded in 1982. With 45 National Olympic Committees in the Asian continent in its members, the OCA is one of five continental associations under the umbrella of the IOC and controls all the sports in Asia. The council organizes six major events for the member states -- Asian Games, Asian Winter Games, Asian Indoor Games, Asian Beach Games, Asian Martial Arts Games, and Asian Youth Games. It also provides financial and technical support for the Asian countries which are locked in trouble and problems that impede their sports programs and activities. (end) mk.mt KUNA 160931 Jul 11NNNN